By Muriel Bristol | July 9, 2023
Thomas H. Roberts was born in Albion, ME, December 20, 1833, son of Nicholas H. and Dorothy (Hurd) Roberts.
Nicholas H. Roberts, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Dorothy [(Hurd)] Roberts, aged forty-eight years (b. ME), Thomas H. Roberts, a farmer, aged seventeen years (b. ME), May Roberts, aged thirteen years (b. ME), Hannah Roberts, aged nine years (b. ME), Pheba Roberts, aged seven years (b. ME), and Dorothy Roberts, aged four years (b. ME). Nicholas H. Roberts had real estate valued at $1,500.
Thomas H. Roberts was twenty-one years of age, i.e., circa 1854, when he lost his right hand.
Nicholas H. Roberts, a farmer, aged fifty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Dorothy [(Hurd)] Roberts, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), Thomas H. Roberts, a farm laborer, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), H.J. Roberts, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Mary Roberts, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Phebe Roberts, aged seventeen years (b. NH), B.A. Roberts, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and Charles C. Roberts, aged ten years (b. NH). Nicholas H. Roberts had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $500.
Milton sent Thomas H. Roberts and Ambrose H. Wentworth to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives, for the 1865-66 biennium. During their biennium, they would vote on two proposed additions to the U.S. Constitution, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments.
Thomas H. Roberts was assigned to the Military Accounts Committee and Ambrose H. Wentworth was assigned to Retrenchment and Reform Committee. They were allocated 105 miles for their travel allowance.
New Hampshire was the twenty-third state of the necessary twenty-seven state approvals necessary for ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
ARTICLE XIII. SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the 215 NH House members [69.1%] that voted in favor of the Thirteenth Amendment, on Thursday, June 29, 1865, while another 96 NH House members [30.9%] voted against it. (Several absent members were permitted to add their votes, be they pro (2) or con (1), after the initial vote).
The New Hampshire legislature has passed the amendment to the Constitution by a vote of 217, including 8 democrats, against 98 (Ellsworth American (Ellsworth, ME), July 7, 1865).
Both houses of the NH General Court finalized their approvals by July 1, 1865. (Other states would add their approval to the Thirteenth Amendment after its ratification, some as late as 1995).
A year later, New Hampshire was the second state of the twenty-eight state approvals necessary for ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
ARTICLE XIV. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the 207 NH House members [64.9%] that voted in favor of the Fourteenth Amendment, on Thursday, June 28, 1866, while another 112 NH House members [35.1%] voted against it.
The Legislature of New Hampshire has adopted the amendment to the Constitution proposed by Congress: yeas, 203; nays, 107, a strict party vote (Vermont Christian Messenger (Montpelier, VT), July 5, 1866).
Both houses of the NH General Court finalized their approvals by July 6, 1866. (Other states would add their approval to the Fourteenth Amendment after its ratification, some as late as 2003).
On Friday, June 29, 1866, Rep. S.G. [Brig. Gen. Simon G.] Griffin (1824-1902) of Keene, NH, from the Military Affairs Committee, presented a petition seeking to authorize towns to “equalize” enlistment bounties. (Some towns had outbid others during recruiting). He moved that it should be ruled inexpedient to legislate (ITL). Rep. Isaac Adams (1802-1883) of Sandwich, NH, moved the alternative that it should be recommitted to the Military Affairs Committee in order that they might produce a bill on the subject. In the roll call vote that followed. Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the minority of 97 members [43.3%] that voted to recommit, as opposed to the majority of 127 members [56.7%] that voted not to recommit.
On Friday, July 6, 1866, Rep. Alvah M. Kimball (1829-1869) of Rochester, NH, moved that a committee report on spiritous liquors, which recommended indefinite postponement of sundry petitions and bills related to the subject, be accepted. Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the minority of 102 members [42.1%] that voted to accept the report, as opposed to the majority of 140 members [57.9%] that voted not to accept the report.
Thomas H. Roberts married in Acton, ME, November 9, 1866, Eliza Jane “Jennie” Hilton. She was born in Acton, ME, February 28, 1841, daughter of Andrew and Eliza Ann (Paul) Hilton.
(The known children of Thomas H. and Eliza J. (Hilton) Roberts were Dora Etta Roberts (1872-1956), and John Hilton Roberts (1875-1955)).
Thomas H. Roberts received an initial appointment as a Milton justice-of-the-peace, April 11, 1868. (He does not seem to have had a renewal appointment, which would have been due in 1873).
MILTON. Justices – Charles Jones, Luther Hayes, State; Elbridge W. Fox, Joseph Plumer, Ebenezer Wentworth, Charles A. Cloutman, Asa Jewett, Joseph Cook, Robert Mathes, Ira C. Varney, George Lyman, George W. Peavey, Martin V.B. Cook, John T. Hersey, George W. Tasker, Edward W. Fox, Ezra H. Twombly, Thomas H. Roberts, John U. Şimes, Larkin A. Craig [Lang] (McFarland & Jenks, 1869).
Nicholas H. Roberts, a farmer, aged sixty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Dorathy [(Hurd)] Roberts, keeping house, aged sixty-eight years (b. ME), Thomas H. Roberts, a farm laborer, aged thirty-six years (b. ME), Jane E. [(Hilton)] Roberts, house keeping, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), Mary Roberts, works in woolen mill, aged thirty-two years (b. ME), and Frank Guptill, a farm laborer, aged sixteen years (b. NH). Nicholas H. Roberts had real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate valued at $830.
The Milton Selectmen of 1870 were Charles Hayes, David Wallingford, Jr., and Thomas H. Roberts. Thomas H. Roberts was also the Town Treasurer.
Daughter Dora Etta Roberts was born in Milton, April 22, 1872.
Mother Dorothy (Hurd) Roberts died of consumption in Milton, May 17, 1872, aged seventy years, five months.
Father-in-law Andrew Hilton died in Acton, ME, December 27, 1873, aged sixty-four years.
Son John Hilton Roberts was born in Somersworth, NH, March 9, 1875.
Father Nicholas H. Roberts died of gangrene of the foot in Shapleigh, ME, September 12, 1879, aged seventy-eight years. Dr. [Horace] Webber was his attending physician.
DEATHS. In North Shapleigh, Sept. 2, Nicholas H. Roberts, aged 77 years, 6 months (Portland Daily Press (Portland, ME), September 12, 1879).
Thomas H. Roberts, a clerk in woolen mill, aged forty-six years (b. ME), headed a North Shapleigh, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Jennie E. [(Hilton)] Roberts, keeping house, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), his children, Dora E. Roberts, aged seven years (b. ME), and John H. Roberts, aged five years (b. ME), and his sister, Mary A. Roberts, aged forty-three years (b. ME).
North Shapleigh. Mrs. Thomas H. Roberts has gone to Lewiston to spend a few weeks with Johnny and Dora Roberts who are attending college there (Biddeford Daily Journal (Biddeford, ME), April 8, 1887).
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. The following real estate transfers in York county for the week ending Feb. 18, 1880, have been recorded at the register of deeds office: … SHAPLEIGH – Feb. 1. John Cook of Shapleigh to Thomas H. Roberts of same place, real estate in Shapleigh for $250 (Biddeford Daily Journal (Biddeford, ME), February 20, 1889).
SOMEWHAT PERSONAL. … Miss Dora Roberts, Bates, ’94, left Lewiston, Monday, for a few weeks’ visit to Boston (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), December 8, 1890).
Mother-in-law Eliza A. (Paul) Hilton died in Lewiston, ME, October 24, 1891, aged seventy-five years.
BATES COLLEGE. … Miss Dora Roberts, Bates ’94, of Elm street, Lewiston, whose critical illness was reported some time ago has recovered sufficiently to be about again but will not return to her class for some time yet (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), February 19, 1892).
Thomas H. Roberts would later be said to have spent a year in the “West,” and was then employed for several years as a bookkeeper for an iron foundry in Auburn, ME.
ANDROSCOGGIN TRANSFERS. AUBURN. – David H. Leavitt to Thomas H. Roberts, land – 850 (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), September 8, 1892).
Son J.H. Roberts, Auburn, and daughter, Miss Dora Roberts, [Auburn,] were among the 33 excursionists that departed the Auburn Central Station, September 11, 1893, for the World’s Columbian Exposition (or World’s Fair), held in Chicago, IL, between May and October 1893. Over two hundred made the same trip that week (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), September 11, 1893; Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), September 18, 1893).
OUR CITIES AND COUNTY. A number of people on one of the Lewiston excursions were in the railroad smashup at Ravenna, O. [Ohio], while en route for Washington. Among the party were Mrs. Addison Small, Miss Dora Roberts, Mr. John Roberts, Miss Bolster of Auburn and Mr. Roscoe Small. None of our local friends were hurt (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), September 23, 1893).
OUR CITIES AND COUNTY. Miss Dora Roberts and Miss Virgie Golder of Lewiston returned from the World’s Fair, Saturday (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), September 26, 1893).
Daughter Dora E. Roberts was to speak on “Accuracy: An Index to Character” at the Junior Exposition at Bates College, June 26, 1894 (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), June 25, 1894). She would have been graduating with the Senior class were it not for her previous illness.
AUBURN CITY AFFAIRS. … The following petitions which have been tabled were taken up and referred to the appropriate committee: … Of Thomas H. Roberts for building a street between Fourth avenue and Jefferson street (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), May 20, 1896).
Daughter Dora Etta Roberts of Auburn, ME, spoke at her own graduation with the Class of 1895 on “Possunt quia posse videntor” [“They can because they think they can”], which was held at the Main Street Free Baptist Church, June 27, 1895. She received First Honor in Modern Languages.
OUR CITIES AND COUNTY. … Miss Dora Roberts of Auburn, daughter of Treasurer Roberts of the Auburn Stove Foundry, has been elected assistant teacher of the Pittsfield Institute at Pittsfield, Me. (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), July 20, 1895).
MAINE MATTERS. … The Trustees of the Maine Central Institute have elected Dora E. Roberts, A.B., of Auburn, as teacher to succeed Miss Eva Taylor, who resigned to accept a situation in Connecticut (Biddeford-Saco Journal (Biddeford, ME), July 26, 1895).
PERSONAL. … Miss Dora Roberts, Bates ’95, who has been teaching in Pittsfield, returned Saturday to her home on Park hill, Auburn, where she will spend her two weeks’ vacation (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), November 27, 1895).
Daughter Dora E. Roberts gave up her school teaching job in Auburn, ME, in November 1896, due to illness.
OUR CITIES AND COUNTY. Miss Dora Roberts, a teacher in the Edward Little High School, Auburn, has resigned on account of ill health (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), November 5, 1896).
ANDROSCOGGIN TRANSFERS. AUBURN. – Thomas H. Roberts to Albert H. Conant – 1 (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), November 18, 1896).
OUR CITIES AND COUNTY. CITY EDITOR’S TELEPHONE CALL 355-2. JOURNAL BUSINESS OFFICE CALL 20-2. … Mr. Thomas H. Roberts has certified to his election as clerk of the Auburn Stove Foundry Co., and Mr. George E. Davies has certified to his election as clerk of Hutchins, Curtis & Co. (Lewiston Evening Journal Lewiston, ME), January 29, 1898).
Thomas H. Roberts left his position at the Auburn Stove Foundry due to cataract vision problems and purchased a farm in Acton, ME.
PERSONAL. Thomas H. Roberts of Auburn is moving to Union, N.H. (Lewiston Daily Sun (Lewiston, ME), April 4, 1899).
Thomas H. Robberts, a farmer, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-three years), Eliza J. [(Hilton)] Robberts, aged fifty-nine years (b. ME), and his children, Dora E. Robberts, a teacher, aged twenty-eight years (b. ME), and John H. Robberts, a farm laborer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH). Thomas H. Robberts owned their farm, free-and-clear. Eliza J. Robberts was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.
Son John H. Roberts married in Acton, ME, January 29, 1902, Alice Caverly Laskey, both of Acton, ME. He was a farmer, aged twenty-six years, and she was a housekeeper, aged twenty-six years. Rev. E.W. Churchill performed the ceremony. She was born in Dover, NH, February 13, 1875, daughter of Jonas S. and Sarah A. (Vinal) Laskey.
A GRADUATE OF BATES. Miss Dora E. Roberts Unanimously Elected Assistant Teacher at Dover High School, N.H. Dover, N.H., April 4 – Miss Dora E. Roberts of Lewiston, Me., has been unanimously elected assistant teacher at the High school here to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert J. Sisk. Miss Roberts is a graduate of the Lewiston High school and of Bates College – She now is a teacher in the Lincoln Academy at New Castle, Maine (Lewiston Daily Sun (Lewiston, ME, April 5, 1902).
ANDROS. TRANSFERS. AUBURN. – Thomas H. Roberts to Warren McFadden – 200 (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), April 23, 1902).
Thomas H. Roberts, a farmer (own farm), aged seventy-six years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of forty-three years), Eliza J. [(Hilton)] Roberts, aged sixty-nine years (b. ME), his son, John H. Roberts, a farmer (home farm), aged thirty-five years (b. NH), his daughter-in-law (of one year), Alice C. [(Laskey)] Roberts, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), and his grandson, Luther H. Roberts, aged three years (b. ME). Thomas H. Roberts owned their farm, free-and-clear. Eliza J. Roberts was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.
Laura M. Beecher, a hospital nurse, aged nineteen years (b. VT), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her lodgers, Margaret M. Wyman, a hospital laborer, aged thirty-six years (b. Canada), Edna N. Adam, a hospital nurse, aged twenty-two years (b. MA), Eva Holloway, a hospital nurse, aged twenty-six years (b. Canada), Mary E. Rofter, aged nineteen years (b. MA), Belle W. Fox, a hospital nurse, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Frances R. Renear, a hospital nurse, aged twenty-one years (b. MA), Dora E. Roberts, a hospital clerk, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), Marion E. Sweeny, a hospital nurse, aged twenty-two years (b. MA), Josephine G. Kennedy, a hospital nurse, aged nineteen years (b. MA), and Rose A. Dever, a hospital nurse, aged twenty-five years (b. Ireland). Laura M. Beecher rented their house at 92 Charles Street.
The Acton farmhouse of Thomas H. Roberts was mentioned in a 1911 description of Milton Mills.
On the Lebanon road [in Acton, ME,] and a little farther off is the farm home of Thomas H. Roberts. It is appropriately named Valley View.
ACTON. (Special to the Tribune). … Mr. Thomas H. Roberts is very low with pneumonia (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 24, 1916).
Thomas H. Roberts died of double lobar pneumonia in Acton, ME, March 29, 1916, aged eighty-two years, three months, and nine days. H.E. Anderson, M.D., signed the death certificate.
ACTON. THOMAS H. ROBERTS. Thomas H. Roberts, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen, passed away with the dreaded disease, pneumonia, at his home last Tuesday at the advanced age of 82 years. Mr. Roberts was born at Albion, Maine, but the most of his early life was spent in Milton, N.H., where a portion of that time was devoted to farming, and a portion to teaching. At the age of 21 he had the misfortune to lose his right hand but although handicapped in this way success seemed to attend his every undertaking. He spent several years as agent in the woolen manufacturing mill at North Shapleigh, one year in the west and several years in Auburn, where he was associated in an iron foundry business. In this business he worked as bookkeeper and finally his eyesight became greatly impaired by cataracts so that he disconnected himself from the business came to this town bought a farm on which he moved and spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Roberts was deeply interested in all good causes especially that of the church to which he contributed freely of his means. He was a member of the Free Baptist church for a great many years. At the age of 33 he married Jennie Hilton of Hilton Ridge who with two children, Miss Dora Roberts of Boston, and Mr. John Roberts, who lives at the home: one grandson, Luther H. Roberts and one sister Mrs. Jane Durgin, live to mourn their loss. Funeral services were held at the home Saturday afternoon, Rev. George Southwick officiating. Interment in cemetery at Milton Mills, N.H. Floral tributes were numerous and beautiful (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), April 7, 1916).
Dora E. Roberts, an institutional matron, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. She was matron of the Home for Aged Women at 108 Revere Street, which had eighty-four “inmates,” i.e., patients or residents, and twenty-seven “servants,” i.e., staffers.
John H. Roberts, a blanket mill wrapper, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice C. [(Laskey)] Roberts, aged forty-four years (b. NH), his son, Luther H. Roberts, aged thirteen years (b. ME), his mother, Eliza J. [(Hilton)] Roberts, a widow, aged seventy-eight years (b. ME), and his boarder, Margaret G. Patch, aged fourteen years (b. ME). John H. Roberts owned their farm on the Fox Ridge Road, free-and-clear.
Eliza J. “Jennie” (Hilton) Roberts died in 1920.
Daughter Dora E. Roberts appeared in the Boston, MA, directory of 1923, as a matron at 108 Revere street, with her residence at the same address. She joined the Bates College residential staff circa 1923 and did not appear in the Boston, MA, directory of 1924.
Other Faculty Changes. … Miss Doris P. Goodwin, who came to Bates from Simmons College, has given satisfaction as director of the College commons. Although without previous experience she has been resourceful in meeting what has always been a difficult situation. Miss Dora E. Roberts, for the last five years director of the Rand hall dining room, will succeed Miss Goodwin. Miss Roberts will be relieved of her responsibilities as director of women’s residences and will next year have the management of both dining rooms. She has more than proved her competency to assume this larger responsibility (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), June 16, 1928).
Clifton D. Gray, [Bates] college president, aged fifty-five years (b. MA), headed a Lewiston, ME, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-nine years), Neva B. [(Ham)] Gray, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), his son, Clifton D. Gray, Jr., aged thirteen years (b. IL), his mother, Alida M. [(Daggett)] Gray, aged eighty-one years (b. MA), his servant, Minnie I. Currie, a private family cook, aged sixty-three years (b. Canada), his lodgers, Blanche M. Hayes, [Bates] college French instructor, aged thirty years (b. France), Dora E. Roberts, [Bates] college dietician, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), Ransford M. Smith, aged twenty years (b. ME), Milford L. Coombs, aged twenty-four years (b. ME), and Nevel W. Huff, aged twenty-three years (b. MA). Clifton D. Gray rented their house at 256 College Street, for $100 per month. They had a radio set.
John H. Roberts, a general farm farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-six years), Alice C. [(Laskey)] Roberts, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), his son, Luther Roberts, an odd jobs laborer, aged twenty-three years (b. ME), his adopted children, Harold Roberts, aged nine years (b. NH), and Margaret Roberts, a woolen mill weaver, aged twenty-four years (b. ME), and his nephew, Ira S. Laskey, an odd jobs laborer, aged forty-two years (b. NH). John H. Roberts owned their farm on the Union Road. They had a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Henry Amory, an odd jobs laborer, aged seventy years (b. ME), and Othello Runnells, a fibre mill dryer, aged twenty-eight years (b. ME).
Prof. Blanche Townsend Gilbert of the Bates College faculty, who is on a leave of absence and is staying at Safety Harbor, Fla., for the winter, is reported much improved in health. Miss Dora E. Roberts, a former dietician at Bates, is with her (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), February 5, 1938).
LITTLE WHITE SCHOOL PUPILS HAD REUNION. There was a happy reunion of four classmates of the North Shapleigh Little White school house at the home of Mrs. Don A. Wright in Sanford over the week-end, the quartette having attended this school more than two score years ago. The group included Miss Dora E. Roberts of Milton and Boston, Miss Mabel E. Boynton of Oneonta, N.Y., and Mrs. Florence M. Emery of Sanford, widow of Edward H. Emery, who was for many years active in the work of the Christian Civic League of Maine. It was through an article in a Portland paper several years ago concerning Miss Roberts, that she was rediscovered by her old classmates. Miss Roberts was for 14 years dietitian at Bates college where she was known as “Ma” Roberts to both students and faculty members. She retired from this position a year ago and was succeeded by Mrs. Willis H. Folsom of Springvale. Miss Boynton was critic and model teaching instructor at the Oneonta Normal school for many years, retiring from teaching five years ago. Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Emery have married and have made their homes in Sanford (Biddeford-Saco Journal (Biddeford, ME), August 15, 1938).
E. Dora Roberts, aged sixty-seven years, headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. E. Dora Roberts rented her apartment at 52 South Russell Street, for $42 per month. She had resided in Lewiston, ME, in 1935.
John H. Roberts, a teamster, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills”) household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice C. [(Laskey)] Roberts, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), his children, Luther H. Roberts, aged thirty-three years (b. ME), Margaret G. Roberts, a blanket mill weaver, aged thirty-five years (b. ME), Harold F. Roberts, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and his boarder, Ira Laskey, aged fifty-two years (b. NH). John H. Roberts owned their farm on Main Street, which was valued at $2,500. They had all resided in the “same house” in April 1935.
John H. Roberts, a farmer, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice C. [(Laskey)] Roberts, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), and his children, Margaret J. Roberts, a woolen mill weaver, aged forty-five years (b. ME), Luther H. Roberts, aged forty-three years (b. ME), and Harold F. Roberts, a farm helper, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Their house was the “7th house on the left.”
Daughter Dora E. Roberts donated $200 to the Milton Cemetery Fund, July 21, 1952 (Milton Annual Report, 1952).
Daughter Dora E. Roberts appeared in the Boston, MA, Directory of 1953, as having her house at 52 S. Russell Street.
Son John H. Roberts died in Milton Mills, April 11, 1955, aged eighty years.
John H. Roberts. John H. Roberts, 80, died Monday evening last week at his home after a long illness. He was born in Somersworth, N.H., Mar. 9, 1875, the son of Thomas H. and Eliza Hilton Roberts, and had lived here most of his life. He was a member of the Milton Mills Baptist Church and Pleasant Valley Grange. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Alice Laskey Roberts; two sons, Luther and Harold; a daughter, Miss Margaret Roberts; and a sister Miss Dora Roberts, Boston, Mass. Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church last Thursday with Rev. Buell Maxfield, pastor of the Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in the Milton Mills Cemetery. Bearers were Clyde Laskey, Crosby Laskey, Ralph Laskey, John Hobbs, and Lester Hobbs. Arrangements were under the direction of the C.L. Peaslee Funeral Home of Union, N.H. (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), April 21, 1955).
Daughter Dora E. Roberts died in at the Sturtevant Nursing Home in Brookline, MA, December 13, 1956, aged eighty-four years.
Dora Etta Roberts. Miss Dora Etta Roberts, 84, a former resident of this community more than 17 years, died Dec. 13 at the Sturtevant Nursing Home Brookline, Mass., after a long illness. Bom at Milton, N.H., April 22, 1872, she was the daughter of Thomas and Eliza J. Hilton Roberts. In 1896 she was an instructor in Auburn schools. From 1923 to 1928 she was director of residences for women at Bates College and later became director of dining halls. She held this post until 1937 at which time she resigned. Well known in this community Miss Roberts attended local Baptist churches and was treasurer at the Androscoggin Woman’s Literary Union from 1936 to 1937. In 1942 she was a record librarian at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Lewiston Journal (Lewiston, ME), December 21, 1956).
Daughter-in-law Alice C. (Laskey) Roberts died in Milton, August 13, 1961, aged eighty-six years.
DEATHS. MRS. ALICE L. ROBERTS. Milton Mills – Mrs. Alice L. Roberts, 86, died Sunday at her home after a long illness. A native of Dover, she had been a longtime resident of Milton Mills. She leaves two sons, Luther H. Roberts and Harold P. Roberts, a daughter, Miss Margaret O. Roberts, all of Milton Mills. Funeral services were at the Methodist Church Wednesday afternoon. Burial was in the Milton Mills cemetery (Farmington News, August 17, 1961).
References:
Find a Grave. (2014, September 20). Andrew Hilton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/136150775/andrew-hilton
Find a Grave. (2013, July 29). Dora Etta Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114610323/dora-etta-roberts
Find a Grave. (2013, August 11). John H. Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115296844/john-h-roberts
Find a Grave. (2013. July 29). Nicholas H. Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114610371/nicholas-h-roberts
Find a Grave. (2013. July 29). Thomas H. Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114610470/thomas-h-roberts
NH General Court. (1866). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=szgtAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA5
Wikipedia. (2023, May 11). Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Wikipedia. (2023, May 6). Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Wikipedia. (2023, May 23). World’s Columbian Exposition. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Columbian_Exposition
Milton Observer 